Preview — Catherine
by William Makepeace Thackeray

Catherine: A Story

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally importanThis is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide....more

Catherine was Thackeray's first novel (1840) and was published under the pen name of Ikey Solomons, Esq., Jr. Catherine's character was based on the real life criminal, Catherine Hayes, who was burned at the stake for murder in London in 1726. It's an odd, disjointed tale of unsavory characters. Thackeray seems to apologize for their baseness several times directly to the reader through the narrator. While somewhat entertaining, it falls well short of the excellence of his classic, Vanity Fair.

I knew what the outcome of Catherine Hayes' life and Thackeray's Catherine: A Story was based on her life but I wanted to read the actual events after I finished his novel. This was his first novel and he wanted to show that a writer does not have to succumb to having villains look like heroes but I must say he did not accomplish this but in his way he made one sympathize to a point with the villains. He had mentioned authors that brought out the best in these characters and many times he commenI knew what the outcome of Catherine Hayes' life and Thackeray's Catherine: A Story was based on her life but I wanted to read the actual events after I finished his novel. This was his first novel and he wanted to show that a writer does not have to succumb to having villains look like heroes but I must say he did not accomplish this but in his way he made one sympathize to a point with the villains. He had mentioned authors that brought out the best in these characters and many times he commented on Edward Bulwer Lytton. Not having read Lytton yet, I can not comment on his work but having read Oliver Twist and his comment on Nancy was too critical of Dickens. I completely understand what he was trying to do and if he could see the extreme cases of modern entertainment in media and novels, he would be shocked but I also think that if he had intended to stick basically to the facts he would have achieved this. Probably the Victorian age limited him to mentioning promiscuity, incest and the brutality of the murder but in reading the recorded account, one had no sympathy for Catherine in the least but disgust and making Becky Sharp seem an angel. His Catherine even though a wild cat was looking for something of a romance in her life. I am glad I went in with an open mind and even though this was not on the scales as Vanity Fair, it was an interesting tale of an actual event colored to make it more entertaining and palpable. I much rather read his novel than a novel with all the debauchery of the actual account. Also his mention of Maria Edgeworth in the evil in a child being nurture and not nature, Thackeray seems to think nature has a big hand. Thackeray is right that some evil is born and nothing can change that no matter how much nurturing is given but thank goodness nurturing plays a big part in shaping the young as Edgeworth believed. I did not read this version but a Delphi collection of his works....more

Contrary to the author's express purpose, and despite his provoking tactics to that effect, this book, Thackeray's first novel, rather than dissuade me from scouting the passages of the heinous yet esteemed Newgate faculty, aroused my morbidness and consigned me to roam along the villains resurrected by Edward Bulwer-Lytton and William Harrison Ainsworth in their works; villains lauded by the very public whose penchant for gruesome narratives Thackeray deplored and strove to stamp out with thisContrary to the author's express purpose, and despite his provoking tactics to that effect, this book, Thackeray's first novel, rather than dissuade me from scouting the passages of the heinous yet esteemed Newgate faculty, aroused my morbidness and consigned me to roam along the villains resurrected by Edward Bulwer-Lytton and William Harrison Ainsworth in their works; villains lauded by the very public whose penchant for gruesome narratives Thackeray deplored and strove to stamp out with this volume, in which the views, concerns and stances that became common in his later pieces (how destiny rules over our choices, the perdition of virtue and the reward of perversity) are prominent. Still, this tale conciliated me after several duds I reproved in his catalogue.

Now, as a final note, since the somewhat exhaustive political backdrop that is provided at the beginning of Catherine reminded me of the setting of A Tale of Two Cities, likewise laid down in its first chapter, I am bound to asume—nay, to report aloud also—that Dickens borrowed (I almost said 'cribbed') from Thackeray, for these expositions are too similar, albeit Thackeray's is broader and precedes that of his colleague by two decades. Oh, perhaps I here should acknowledge the source that helped me understand the whole context and climate of the early 18th century, when the story takes place:

I was delighted with this. I want to do a complete Thackeray read, so I had to start with his first, although what I read about it didn't fill me with confidence. But it was very funny, I loved his authorial voice and despite what you may read, the plot works as well. OK, it's not as rounded as Vanity Fair, but well worth the reading.

Wow! What a pleasant surprise this novel was. I only read it because I got the complete works of Thackeray on my Kindle. It is my experience that first novel seem to be interesting at best or how-they-improved at worst. This, though, is an exception. Thackerary's first was extremely engaging, very funny, and a wonderful example on how an author can bring us in by acknowledging the fact that we are in fact reading it. i could talk about the plot, but I don't think that is what keeps us reading. IWow! What a pleasant surprise this novel was. I only read it because I got the complete works of Thackeray on my Kindle. It is my experience that first novel seem to be interesting at best or how-they-improved at worst. This, though, is an exception. Thackerary's first was extremely engaging, very funny, and a wonderful example on how an author can bring us in by acknowledging the fact that we are in fact reading it. i could talk about the plot, but I don't think that is what keeps us reading. It is his style, his wit, and his fun way of telling a story....more

Wonderful story, interesting characters, and some very sharp writing occasionally.

As a novel this is weighed down by the author feeling it necessary to try justifying his novel, at least from a 21st century perspective, often and excessively. I don't want to here about how you're 'not like other crime writers' again and again even if you attempt to write about it in charming, creative ways each time.

Pretty good for a first novel. I definitely want to read more from this author.

I felt the endiWonderful story, interesting characters, and some very sharp writing occasionally.

As a novel this is weighed down by the author feeling it necessary to try justifying his novel, at least from a 21st century perspective, often and excessively. I don't want to here about how you're 'not like other crime writers' again and again even if you attempt to write about it in charming, creative ways each time.

Pretty good for a first novel. I definitely want to read more from this author.

I felt the ending was very good but we had laid out the potential for a spectacular finish....more

Catherine: A Story was written by William Makepeace Thackeray in response to the popularity of early nineteenth-century crime fiction - the so-called Newgate novels, based on the lives of criminals that went to Newgate prison (either historical or fictional) and their stories in the ‘Newgate Calendar’, a popular record with criminal biographies sold cheaply. Thackeray’s story of Catherine is based on an eighteenth-century murderess, burned at the stake for killing her husband. The author was fruCatherine: A Story was written by William Makepeace Thackeray in response to the popularity of early nineteenth-century crime fiction - the so-called Newgate novels, based on the lives of criminals that went to Newgate prison (either historical or fictional) and their stories in the ‘Newgate Calendar’, a popular record with criminal biographies sold cheaply. Thackeray’s story of Catherine is based on an eighteenth-century murderess, burned at the stake for killing her husband. The author was frustrated at the way readers sympathised with the criminals in fiction by authors like Edward Bulwer-Lytton and William Harrison Ainsworth that he wanted to publish a novel with a protagonist so vile that no one would sympathise with her. However, whether accidentally or on purpose, he failed in this goal, and Catherine came to be counted among the popular Newgate fiction Thackeray despised, instead of being a counter to it.

I enjoyed the first half of the story very much - the narrator’s voice regularly injects some cynical comments into the text that invite the reader to laugh at what is going on. As it progressed however, I felt the story started to drag a bit more (though this might also just have been the fact that I was increasingly busy as I read through the novel in weekly instalments). Still, it was an entertaining nineteenth-century read, and I’m pleased to have added to my list of Newgate novels....more

An early book, whose tone is familiar, but whose goal in writing is a little messy. He clearly wanted to write a satire of books that glamorize criminals, but he can't seem to help making Catherine sympathetic.

Thackeray, an only child, was born in Calcutta, India, where his father, Richmond Thackeray (1 September 1781 – 13 September 1815), held the high rank of secretary to the board of revenue in the British East India Company. His mother, Anne Becher (1792–1864) was the second daughter of Harriet and John Harman Becher and was also a secretary (writer) for the East India Company.

William had been sentThackeray, an only child, was born in Calcutta, India, where his father, Richmond Thackeray (1 September 1781 – 13 September 1815), held the high rank of secretary to the board of revenue in the British East India Company. His mother, Anne Becher (1792–1864) was the second daughter of Harriet and John Harman Becher and was also a secretary (writer) for the East India Company.

William had been sent to England earlier, at the age of five, with a short stopover at St. Helena where the imprisoned Napoleon was pointed out to him. He was educated at schools in Southampton and Chiswick and then at Charterhouse School.